Electrical switch



May 6, 1947. o, FRQLAND 2,420,074

ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Nov. 18, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 /EIVTOB.'

OLA V FEOLA/VD May 6, 1947. o. FROLAND ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed Nov. 18, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 lM/EI TOR; 0Lm/ FEOLAND,

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Patented May 6, 1947 ELECTRICAL SWITCH Olav Froland, St. Louis, Mo., asslgnor to James R. Kearney Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application November 18, 1943, Serial No. 510,715

4 Claims.

- 1 This invention relates generally to electrical switches, and more specifically to heavy duty electrical switches of the rotating insulator type, the predominant object of the invention being 2 versely of the member 4 from one side wall 8 to the other thereof is a pair of transverse walls 8 that aid in imparting the required structural strength to said member 4 and perform an addito provide an electrical switch of this type which, tional function which will be hereinafter referred because of its improved construction and art0. Secured to the rear end portion of the wall rangement, is greatly simplified in its construc- 1 of the member 4, by suitable fastening devices tion and operation, and is rendered capable of 9, is a terminal member ID which mechanically performing its intended function in an improved and electrically engages an electrical conductor and highly eflicient manner. Cb that is associated with the switch A.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved switch At its forward end the member 4 is bifurcated; of the present invention. that is to say, forward extensions ll of the side Fig. 2 is a plan view of the switch illustrated walls 6 of said member are provided which are in Fig. 1. spaced apart to a greater degree than are the Fig. 3 is a fragmentary longitudinal section side walls 6 of the member 4 (see Figs. 2, and illustrating a portion of the switch shown in 5). Pivoted to the spaced, forward extensions Figs. 1 and 2. I l of the member 4 is an arm structure l2 which Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the imcomprises rear, spaced portions l2a that are disproved switch but showing parts thereof in po- Posed outwardly of the extensions ll o e mcm sitions different from those occupied by said her 4 in Substantial parallelism therewith. 00

parts in Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary plan view of the improved switch with parts thereof shown in still different positions.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary side elevation of the portion of the switch illustrated in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged cross-section taken on line 'l'| of Fig. 3.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-section taken on line 8--8 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 9 illustrates in elevation and partly in section a part of the improved switch.

In the drawings, wherein is shown for the purposes of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention, A designates the improved switch generally. The switch A includes a base structure I which is adapted to be supported by suitable means (not shown) so as to locate the switch in a desired position for use.

Secured to the base structure 1 and extended upwardly therefrom is a supporting member 2 which supports a stationary insulator 3. The insulator 3 has fixed thereto at its top a member 4, which at its forward end is provided with a horizontal wall 4a through which suitable fastening devices 5 are extended for the purpose of securing the member 4 to the insulator 3. The member 4 is provided with spaced side walls 6 which extend upwardly from the horizontal wall 4a and horizontally in a rearward direction therefrom, said member 4, at its rear end, being provided with a solid wall I which' extends from side wall to side wall of said member 4 and projects rearwardly of said side walls, as is shown to good advantage in Fig. 3. Extending transvergent portions 12b that extend forwardly from the portions Ho, and a transversely extended forward portion l2c which Joins the forward ends of said convergent portions l2b. Pivotal connection between the arm structure l2 and the extensions ll of the member 4 is effected by pivot bolts I3 which are provided with screw-threaded portions that are screwed into openings formed in the portions l2a of the arm structure, and include smooth inner portions which extend into bearing openings formed in said extensions ll of the member 4 (Fig. 4).

Supported in part by the arm structure I2 is a switch blade l4 which is arranged for axial rotation in an opening l4 formed through the forward portion l2c of said arm structure (Fig. 4). The switch blade I4 preferably is in the form of a metallic tube, and the forward portion of this tube is flattened, as indicated at I5 and as shown to good advantage in Fig. 8, so as to provide said switch blade with a forward portion of increased width which performs a function to be hereinafter set forth. Fixed to the flattened portion l5 of the switch blade I4 is an arcing element l6, said arcing element including a bifurcated rear end portion which embraces an edge portion of the switch blade portion l5 and is secured thereto by fastening devices I1,

and a rod portion extended forwardly from said bifurcated portion.

Secured to the base structure I of the improved switch A is a supporting member l8 (Fig. 1) which has fixed thereto for support an insulator l9. Secured to the top of the insulator 19 by fastening devices 20 is a member 2| which is tacts 25 with which the switch blade portion I5,

is adapted to make electrical contact, as will presently appear herein in greater detail, each contact being made up of a plurality of lengths of resilient wire or rod material, shaped as shown to 'the best advantage in Fig. 8. Additionally, an

arcing horn structure 25 with which the arcing element ii at the forward end of the switch blade l4 cooperates during operation of the switch is supported by the member 21, said arcing horn comprising a pair of spaced, upstanding portions which are flared at. their upper ends and are joined by a. loop portion 'at their lower ends, the arcing horn structure being secured to the plate 22 of the member 2| by a suitable fastening device 21 that engages the loop portion thereof, as shown in Fig. 1.

As will presently appear herein in greater detail, the switch blade I4 i movable at its outer end upwardly and downwardly in an arc of a circle about the pivot points provided by the pivot bolts l3, and during such movement of said switch blade the forwardly extended rod of the arcing element 19 moves through the'space between the upwardly extended, spaced portions of the arcing horn 26. Also, in order to arrest downward movement of the forward portion of the switch blade so that it will be supported in its proper lowered position, as shown in Fig. 1, the member 2| is provided with an upwardly projected extension 28 which provides an abutment with which the switch blade contacts when it reaches its lowered position.

Located at the rear end of the switch blade I4 is a pivotal joint 29 (Fig. 3) which comprises a joint member 2911 associated with the switch blade [4 and a joint member 29b associated with the member 4. The joint member 29a includes a shank 30 which is disposed within the rear end portion of the tubular switch blade l4, and suitable fastening devices 3| rigidly secure said shank to said switch blade. At the outer end of said shank 30 of said joint member 29a an elongated head 32 is provided which has an opening formed longitudinally therethrough. The joint member 29b includes a shank 33 which is supported for axial rotation in alined openings formed through the transverse walls 8 of the member 4, said shank 33 at its forward end being provided with a bifurcated head 34 between the spaced legs of which the elongated head 32 of the joint member 29a is disposed. The spaced legs of the bifurcated portion 34 of the joint portion 29b are provided with openings which are alined with the opening of the elongated head 32 of the joint portion 29a, and disposed in said alined openings of the legs of the bifurcated portion of the joint member 291) and the elongated head of the joint member'29a is a pivot pin 35. The pivot pin 35 is retained in its proper position by suitably located pins 36, and likewise, the shank 33 of the joint member 29b is retained in position with respect to the transverse wall 8 of and supported by said bearing member for axial formed through said wall I.

rotation is a rotary spindle 39, said rotary spindle being rigidly associated with a connecting member 40 which is rotatable with said spindle, and

said connecting member having secured thereto for rotation therewith an insulator 4 I. necting member 40, at its upper end, is provided with a rigid arm 42 which is adapted to have connected to its outer end an operating element (shown in dotted lines at 43 in Figs. 2, 4, and 5) which is operable to swing the outer end portion of said arm 42 in an arc of a circle so as to subject said spindle 39, said connecting member 43, and said insulator 4| to axial rotation. Rigidly fixed to the insulator 4| at the .top thereof is an upstanding shank 44 which is provided with an upper portion 44' of reduced diameter (Fi 3). there being an annular shoulder 45 which contacts with the lower face of the wall 1 of the member 4 and the upper portion 44' of said shank 44 being extended through an opening Also, the reduced upper portion 44 of the shank 44 has mounted thereon and fixedly secured thereto a collar 44 whose lower face contacts with the top face of the wall I of the member 4.- The top face of the reduced upper portion 44' of the shank 44 has fixed thereto an arm 41.

Supported for pivotal movement by the arm structure l2 of the switch A is a lever structure 48 which is pivoted to said arm structure by pivot elements 49 (Fig. 2), there being bosses 59 formed on the convergent portions |2b of said arm structure which facilitate the pivotal connection of the lever structure to the arm structure. The construction of the lever structure is shown to good advantage in Fig. 7, wherein it is shown as being provided with spaced arms 48a and 43b which are joined intermediate their ends by an integral, transverse portion 480. Also the arm 48a of the lever structure 48 is provided at its lower end with an integral, rearwardly projected extension 5| which gives to said arm 49;; the form of a bell crank lever (see Fig, l). The switch blade l4 has fixedly secured thereto a forked member 52, between the spaced legs 52' of which the extension 5l-of the lever structure 48 is extended. The lever structure 48 is provided at the lower ends of the spaced arms 48a and 48b thereof with forwardly projected abutment elements 53 which are adapted during operation of the switch to move into contact with webs 54 that are integral portions of the arm structure l2 of the switch for a purpose to be hereinafter explained.

The upper portion of the lever structure 43 and the forward end of the arm 41 are connected by an arm 55, there being a universal joint 58 at the point of connection of the arm 55 to the upper portion of the lever structure 48, and the opposite end of the arm 55 being loosely pivoted to the arm 41, as shown at 51 in Fig. 3, to permit of slight upward movement of the forward end of the arm 55 as it moves in an arc of a circle with the upper. portion of the lever structure 48. The horizontal wall 44; of the member 4 is provided with a vertically projected extension 58 (Fig. 3) to which a member 59 is secured by suitable fastening devices, said member 59 having secured thereto and extended upwardly therefrom a pair of opposed contact structures 50 which are shaped and arranged in accordance with the contact structures 25 previously referred to herein and illustrated in Fig. 8. The contact structures 60 frictionally engage a rear portion of the switch blade l4 when The con- 7 said switch blade is'in itslowered position, as shown in Fig. 1, so that a positive by-path for electrical energy passing through the switch will be provided around the pivotal joint 29 and from the switch blade I4'to the member 4.

In describing the operation of the improved switch A it will be assumed that the switch is in the circuit-closing position, at which time the flattened, forward portion I of the switch blade I4 is positioned as shown by full lines in Fig. 8 where its opposite side edges contact closely with the opposed contact structures 25. When the switch is so positioned the path for electrical energy moving through the switch is made up of the conductor Ca, the terminal 24, the member 2| and its plate 22, the contact structures 25, the switch blade I4, the contact structures 68, the member 4, the terminal I8, and the conductor Cb. It is important to note that when the switch is in the circuit-closing position the switch blade I4 is positively locked against unintended movement out of contact with the contact structures 25, because of the fact that the pivot pin 35 of the pivotal joint 29 is disposed at an angle relative to the pivot bolts l3 which pivotally connect the switch blade to the member 4 through the instrumentality of the arm structure I2. In other words; because of the non-alinement of the pivot pin 35 of the pivotal joint 29 with respect to the pivot bolts I3 which provide for pivotal movement of the switch blade, pivotal movement of the switch blade will be prevented and the flattened portion I5 of said switch blade will be retained in proper contacting relation with respect to the contact structures 25.

Assume, now, that it is desired to move the switch blade I4 from the circuit-closing position, in which it is shown in Fig. 1, to the circuitinterrupting position, in which said switch blade is shown in Fig. 6. To accomplish this purpose, force is applied to the operating element 43 so as to rotate the insulator M and thereby swing the forward end portion of the arm 41 horizontally in an arc of a circle outwardly and rearwardly, as is indicated in Fig. 4. Such movement of the arm 41 is transmitted by the arm 55 to the lever structure 48 with the result that the upper portion of said lever structure swings rearwardly as the lever structure moves about its pivots 49. As the lever structure 48 moves about its pivots in response to movement of the arm 41 the extension 5| of said lever structure moves downwardly and rotates the forked member 52 with the result that the switch blade I4, to which said forked member is rigidly fixed, will be rotated about its axis in the opening I4 of the forward portion I2c of the arm structure I2 and in contact with the abutment member 28. During such axial rotation of the switch blade the flattened portion I5 of the switch blade is shifted from the position shown in Fig. 8 where its edges frictionally engage the contact structures 25, to a position where said flattened switch blade portion is out of contact with said contact structures 25. Simultaneously, such axial rotation of the switch blade causes the pivot pin 35 of the pivotal joint 29 to be alined horizontally with the pivot bolts I3 which pivotally connect the arm structure I2 to the member 4 (see Fig. 4).

As the operation of subjecting the switch blade to axial rotation reaches its end the abutment elements 53 of the lever structure 48 move into engagement with the lower faces of the webs 54 of the arm structure I2 thereby arresting further rotary movement of the lever structure, and continued rotation of the arm 41 will raise the forward end portion of the switch blade I4 to the position in which said switch blade is shown inr Fig. 6. During upward and rearward movement thereof the switch blade I 4 and the arm structure I2 pivot about the alined pivot pin 35 of the pivotal joint 29 and the pivot bolts I3 which pivotally attach the arm structure to the member 4, and because said pivots are in complete alinement there is no interference with free pivotal movement of said parts.

To move the switch blade I4 from the circuitinterrupting position shown in Fig. 6 to the circuit-closing position shown in Fig. 1, the operation just described is reversed. That is to say; the insulator 4| is rotated to swing the arm 41 in the proper direction to lower the switch blade to a 53 of the lever structure 48, during such movement of the switch blade, being in engagement with the webs 54 of the arm structure I2. When the switch blade has reached its horizontal position, continued movement of the arm 41 rotates the lever structure 48 about its pivots 49 with the result that the switch blade is rotated axially through cooperative action of the extension SI of said lever structure and the forked member 52 fixed to the switch blade. Such rotation of the switch blade causes the opposed edges of the flattened portion I5 of the switch blade to frictionally engage the contact structures 25 and moves the pivot pin 35 of the pivotal joint 28 out of alinement relative to the pivot bolts I3 that pivotally attach the arm structure I2 to the member 4 so as to positively lock the switch blade in its lowered position.

I claim:

1. An electrical switch comprising contact means, a switch blade including a part supported for rotary movement about its axis so as to move a portion of said switch blade part into and out of contact engagement with respect to said contact means and a switch blade part for supporting said axially rotatable switch blade part for axial rotation with respect thereto, a stationary member, pivot means for pivotally attaching said supporting switch blade part to said stationary member whereby the entire switch blade may be moved pivotally to and from the circuit closing position with relation to said contact means, and means operable during a single continuous operation thereof to first subject said axially rotatable part of said switch blade to axial rotation and thereafter subject said switch blade to pivotal movement, the last-mentioned means including a pivotally supported lever structure mounted on said supporting part of said switch blade, a member fixed to said axially rotatable part of said switch blade and engaged by a portion of said lever structure so as to rotate said member and said axially rotatable switch blade part during pivotal movement of said lever structure, abutment means forming part of said lever structure for engaging a part of said switch blade so as to cause said switch blade to be moved pivotally, and means for subjecting said lever structure to pivotal movement and for subjecting said switch blade to pivotal movement.

2. An electrical switch comprising contact means, a switch blade including a part supported for rotary movement about its axis so as to move a portion of said switch blade part into and out of contact engagement with respect to said contact means and a switch blade part for supporting said axiallyrotatable switch blade part for axial rotation with respect thereto, a stationary member, pivot means for pivotally attaching said supporting switch blade part to said stationary member whereby the entire switch blade may be moved pivotally to and from the circuit closing position with relation to said contact means, and means operable during a single continuous operation thereof to first subject said axially rotatable part of said switch blade to axial rotation and thereafter subject said switch blade to pivotal movement, the last-mentioned means including a pivotally supported lever structure mounted on said supporting part or said switch blade, a member fixed to said axially rotatable part of said switch blade and engaged by a portion of said lever structure so as to rotate said member and said axially rotatable switch blade part during pivotal movement of said lever structure, abutment means forming part of said lever structure for engaging said supporting part of said switch blade so as to cause said switch blade to be moved pivotally. and means for subjecting said lever structure to pivotal movement and for subjecting said switch blade to nivotal movement.

3. An electrical switch comprising contact means, a switch blade including a part supported for rotary movement about its axis so as to move a portion of said switch blade part into and out of contact engagement with respect to said contact means and a switch blade part for supporting said axially rotatable switch blade part for axial rotation with respect thereto, a stationary member, pivot means for pivotally attaching said supporting switch blade part to said stationary member whereby the entire switch blade may be moved pivotally to and from the circuit closing position with relation to said contact means, means operable during a single continuous operation thereof to first subject said axially rotatable part of said switch blade to axial rotation and thereafter subject said switch blade to pivotal movement, the last-mentioned means including a pivotally supported lever structure mounted on said supporting part of said switch blade, a member fixed to said axially rotatable part of said switch blade and engaged by a portion of said lever structure so as to rotate said member and said axially rotatable switch blade part during pivotal movement of said lever structure, abutment means formin part of said lever structure for engaging a part of said switch blade so as to cause said switch blade to be moved pivotally, and means for subjecting said lever structure to pivotal movement and for subjecting said switch blade to pivotal movement, and a joint structure associated with said axially rotatable switch blade part, said joint structure having a pivot which in one position of said axially rotatable switch blade part is ofiset relative to said pivot means which pivotally connects said supporting switch blade part to said stationary member so as to prevent pivotal movev 8 v ment of the switch blade and which in another position of said axially rotatable switch blade part is alined with said pivot means so u to permit pivotal movement of said switch blade.

. 4. .An electrical switch comprising contact means, a switch blade including a part supported for r tary movement about its axis so as to move a portion of said switch blade part into and out of contact engagement with respect to said contact means and a switch blade part for supporting said axially rotatable switch blade port for axial rotation with respect thereto, a stationary memben'pivot means for pivotally attaching said supporting switch blade part to said stationary member whereby the entire switch blade may be moved pivotally to and from the circuit closing position with relation to said contact means, means operable during a single continuous operation thereof to first subject said axially rotatable part of said switch blade to axial rotation and thereafter subject said switch blade to pivotal movement, the last-mentioned means including a pivotally supported lever structure mounted on said supporting part of said switch blade, a member fixed to said axially rotatable part of said switch blade and engaged by a portion of said lever structure so as to rotate said member and said axially rotatable switch blade part during pivotal movement 01' said lever structure, abutment means forming part of said lever structure for engaging a part of said switch blade so as to cause said switch blade to be moved pivotally, and means for subjecting said lever structure to pivotal movement and for subjecting said switch blade to pivotal movement, and a joint structure associated with said axially rotatable switch blade part, said joint structure comprising a pair of joint members one of which is fixed to said axially rotatable switch blade part and the other of which is provided with a rotatably supported shank portion, said joint structure having a. pivot for pivotally connecting said joint members which in one position 01f said axially rotatable switch blade part is ofiset relative to said pivot means which pivotally connects said supporting switch .blade part to said stationary member so as to prevent pivotal movement of the switch blade and which in another position of said axially rotatable switch blade part is alined with said pivot means so as to permit pivotal movement of said switch blade.

OLAV FROLAND.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,179,539 Bowie Nov. 14, 1939 2,303,119 Froland Nov, 24, 1942 2,226,818 Henrich Dec. 31, 1940 

